Batman's Martial Arts

[Samloyal23]

Comic book writers who do not necessarily know very much about martial arts have repeatedly said Batman just knows all the martial arts. Since more are created regularly, and there are many stylistic variations of most arts, this seems ludicrous. Trying to be as realistic as possible, if you wanted to be an unarmed fighter on par with Batman, which styles would you study and why?

 

[Umbran]

Since more are created regularly, and there are many stylistic variations of most arts, this seems ludicrous.

With respect, he is Batman.

He dresses up as a bat and fights crime, against penguins, clowns, wrestlers, and HVAC technicians, and his martial arts prowess is the thing that strikes you as ludicrous?

 

[Doug McCrae]

In 1940, boxing and jiu jitsu. At least those are what he teaches Robin in Detective Comics #38.

 

[Tonguez]

It was stated at one point that he knows 127 fighting styles but focuses on around 7 main ones

Batman obviously knows Ninjitsu for his use of Batarang shuriken, striking from the shadows, smoke bombs and tai sabaki evasion and whole body strikes

He uses boxing for his body rotation in strong punch techniques, the open hand strikes of karate and the knee and elbow strikes of Muay Thai. Kung fu and Jeet Kune do are there too for defense and efficiency of strikes. Some kind of pressure point/nerve striking technique is in there too as are the throws of Jujitsu.

his brutal disarms and headbutts show evidence of krav maga

I also like to think that Batman knows Baritsu - because Sherlock Holmes

of course by now Batman as a Master of multiple arts has developed his own idiosyncratic form which can be summed up as “Because I’m Batman”

 

[Blue]

This brings up a side question: Canonically, does Supes know any martial arts? With his ability to fly effectively bracing him all the time, I wouldn't necessarily think a human one, but still.

 

[Morrus]

This brings up a side question: Canonically, does Supes know any martial arts? With his ability to fly effectively bracing him all the time, I wouldn't necessarily think a human one, but still.

I always wondered why he looks so fit, given that it must be hard for him to exercise being super strong and stuff.

 

[Tonguez]

This brings up a side question: Canonically, does Supes know any martial arts? With his ability to fly effectively bracing him all the time, I wouldn't necessarily think a human one, but still.

Superman doesnt really have to be a 'good' fighter since being invunerable and super strong means that he just needs to land a basic punch to cause devastating damage.

That said he has been depicted as able to handle himself against multiple opponents and canonically trained with Wild Cat (Boxing) as well as learning techniques from both Wonder Woman and Batman. He's also got some knowledge of Kryptonian pressure points. He's also skilled with sword and hammer.

So anyway I'd say
Trained = Boxing, Karate and Shooting (Laser eyes) and Sword combat
Untrained = I'd allow that he knows some Klukor karate techniques and he also uses Tackling and Headlocks which he may have learnt from Football or by watching lots of WWF

Oh = theres also two Krytonian Martial Arts which Superman may be familiar with - Torquasm Vo is a mental style similar to Yoga whereas Torquasm Rao is similar to TaiChi

Interestingly Supergirl knows Klukor (Kryptonian Karate) and thus has greater fighting skill than her cousin including use of flight enhanced side and drop kicks.

 

[Morrus]

Superman doesnt really have to be a 'good' fighter since being invunerable and super strong means that he just needs to land a basic punch to cause devastating damage.

He meets people as tough as him all the time. He totally needs to know how to fight them.

 

[Tonguez]

He meets people as tough as him all the time. He totally needs to know how to fight them.

yes but he's also shown to mostly get lots of beat downs when facing such opponents, until with his last breath he calls upon his inner spirit as a Hero to finish things on a devastating power move. (that could be an outcome of his Torquasm Vo mastery)

also when I say he's not a good fighter that doesnt mean he's a bad fighter just not as highly skilled as his peers- non-powered heroes like Wild Cat and Karate Kid can spar with him effectively and of course Batman has defeated him (Because Batman)

 

[Morrus]

yes be he's also shown to mostly get lots of beat downs when facing such opponents

I was responding to you saying "Superman doesnt really have to be a 'good' fighter".